For terminal wire-bending space, use Table 312.6(A) when the conductor does not enter or leave through the wall opposite its terminal, and Table 312.6(B) when it does. Apply 2020 NEC 312.6(B), including its exceptions and table notes. A wire fitting into a lug does not prove that the enclosure has enough room for it.
Watch Victor explain the two wire-bending tables
Start at 4:25. Follow the conductor’s path from the enclosure entry to the terminal, then choose the applicable table.
Watch Victor explain the two wire-bending tablesWatch the existing JCR lesson on YouTubeChoose the table from the conductor’s path
| Question about the terminal connection | Starting table |
|---|---|
| Does not enter or leave through the wall opposite its terminal | 312.6(A) |
| Enters or leaves through the wall opposite its terminal | 312.6(B) |
Identify the terminal’s orientation. “Top entry” alone does not answer the question: a top entry may be opposite one terminal and beside another. Draw the entry, terminal and conductor path if the exam diagram is difficult to read.
Then find the conductor size and applicable number of conductors per terminal in the table. Read the notes and exceptions before choosing a dimension. The required space is not simply the distance you can squeeze a bent conductor into.
Practice box and cabinet sizing with JCR
Turn lessons like this into test-day skills. Find the rule, work the calculation and practice with JCR’s mock exam questions.
Live classes teach the 2020 NEC. Check your state’s exam requirements before choosing a course. NC prep includes NC business and law. For another state, also study any business-and-law material required for your license. JCR carries the 2020 NEC softbound code book.
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Choose in-person classes, live Zoom or recorded courses. Review NEC navigation, grounding and bonding, and other electrical topics. Check the course’s NEC edition, state approval and credit hours before enrolling.
See CE courses and class datesWhy the lug size is not enough
A manufacturer can specify one conductor range for the lug and a smaller range based on the enclosure’s bending space.
Example: Schneider Electric’s general-duty switch table lists certain 100A switches with a lug range extending to 1/0 AWG, while the wire-bending-space range stops at 1 AWG. The fact that 1/0 fits the lug does not make it acceptable under that listed bending-space range. Check the exact model’s instructions.
Do not confuse three different space checks
| What you are checking | Rule to start with |
|---|---|
| Room at terminals and wiring gutters in cabinets | 312.6 |
| Straight or angle pulls in qualifying pull boxes | 314.28 |
| Conductor and device volume in ordinary outlet boxes | 314.16 |
Practice the other two with our angle-pull example and box-fill calculation guide. Cable bend-radius requirements and equipment instructions can also apply.
Practice question
A conductor enters a cabinet through a wall that is not opposite its terminal. Which table do you check first for terminal bending space?
Table 312.6(A), through 312.6(B)(1). The conductor’s route determines this first step. Next, use the conductor size and terminal arrangement to select the dimension, then check the applicable notes and exceptions.
Common questions
Is Table 312.6(B) always the one to use because the rule is in 312.6(B)?
No. Section 312.6(B)(1) sends you to Table 312.6(A) for conductors that do not enter or leave through the opposite wall. Keep the section number and table letter separate.
Do two conductors in the same cabinet mean two wires per terminal?
No. Count the conductors connected to each terminal. Two wires on separate terminals are different from two wires sharing one terminal. A terminal may accept multiple conductors only when identified for that use.
Can I solve it from the breaker’s amp rating alone?
No. You need conductor size, entry path and terminal details. For a separate conductor-sizing exercise, try our dwelling service conductor guide.
Keep practicing
Try our most-missed NEC mock exam questions and 2020 NEC practice questions. For each missed answer, find the section in your code book, read the rule and work the question again.
Reviewed October 25, 2026, for the 2020 NEC. Use the edition required by your licensing exam. Follow the adopted code and local amendments on the job.
